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How low can they go?
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For just the sixth time in franchise history, a Toronto Raptors team has lost at least a dozen games in a row. On Wednesday the Raptors tried to snap the skid against a strong New York Knicks team and ended up looking completely overmatched. The Knicks sizzled from three-point range, didn’t trail for a second, built up a 21-point lead in the first half and never looked threatened.
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The Knicks won 145-101, scoring a season-high for points and sending the Raptors to the worst home loss in franchise history — for the second time this month.
Miles McBride had a career night, hitting nine three-pointers and scoring 29 points, along with seven assists. The Knicks hit 22 three-pointers, shooting 50% from beyond the arc.
McBride dropped 20 points on the Raptors in the first half alone, Jalen Brunson added 17 of his game-high 26 in the first two quarters and four other Knicks scored at least 15.
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Gradey Dick was a bright spot for the Raptors, scoring 15 points through two and a career-best 23 in all. Veteran Garrett Temple added 15, Gary Trent Jr. 18 as the Raptors fell to 23-50, the seventh season with at least 50 losses in franchise history and first since 2010-11.
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Most of the drama of the game disappeared when the Raptors announced earlier in the week that Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett would not play and the Knicks said OG Anunoby remained sidelined too. The trio headlined one of the bigger trades of the NBA season. Precious Achiuwa did play and gave his former teammates fits with a double-double, including a monster dunk late in the game. While New York was missing Anunoby and all-star Julius Randle, Anunoby continues to work toward a return and the team did get centre Mitchell Robinson back for the first time since early in the season. Robinson had missed 50 games and initially was not expected back this year, but recovered quicker than anticipated. Getting Robinson back should be a significant boost for the Knicks. He was excellent in the playoffs last season against Cleveland and has shot better than 70% from the field over his career and averages nearly two blocks to go with his strong rebounding.
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The Raptors, on the other hand, are going nowhere, and the team lost young forward Ochai Agbaji in the first quarter after a scary fall. Agbaji got accidentally undercut while in the air and fell extremely hard. He had to be helped to the back by teammates and seemed to be unable to put weight on his right leg.
Toronto dropped to 1-13 against Atlantic Division opponents.
The Raptors don’t play again until Sunday, when former head coach Nick Nurse and the Philadelphia 76ers come to town for an early tip. Another loss would be the fourth 13-gamer in Raptors history and first since 2010-11 (also 2001-02 and 1997-98). The team record is 17 in a row in 1997-98.
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